Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, is currently evaluating its driver lineup for the 2027 Formula 1 season. Both seats at the Faenza-based outfit remain open for the upcoming year. The decision involves three drivers: current racers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, alongside Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov.
Alan Permane, Team Principal for Racing Bulls, has indicated that a final decision will be made in the coming weeks. He stated the team is not under pressure to rush the announcement.
The ultimate choice rests with Red Bull shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, in conjunction with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who oversees the Formula 1 programme.
All three drivers under consideration are contracted directly to Red Bull. This structure means Red Bull GmbH holds significant influence over the Racing Bulls’ driver selections.
Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were confirmed as the official driver lineup for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Lawson has been a standout performer in the midfield during the 2026 season, accumulating 75 points. This tally includes 14 points earned during a three-race substitute stint for Red Bull Racing.
His contributions have been instrumental in Racing Bulls securing a comfortable fifth position in the constructors’ championship. Lawson, at 24 years old, is considered a benchmark for future Red Bull talent.
Lindblad is in his rookie F1 season with Racing Bulls, having scored 38 points across 17 races. The 19-year-old Briton has demonstrated consistent performance since the Monaco Grand Prix.
Nikola Tsolov, a highly-rated Red Bull junior, is currently competing in the 2026 Formula 2 championship. He sits second in the standings with 200 points.
Rafael Camara leads the F2 championship with 207 points, holding a seven-point advantage over Tsolov. Alex Dunne is third with 189 points.
The F2 season has two remaining rounds scheduled for Qatar and Abu Dhabi. However, uncertainty surrounds these events due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
If the final two rounds are cancelled without replacement, Rafael Camara would be crowned the 2026 Formula 2 champion.
Tsolov has secured six victories in the current F2 campaign. His potential F2 title win would prevent him from returning to the championship in 2027.
Red Bull’s main team, Oracle Red Bull Racing, has already confirmed its 2027 driver pairing. Isack Hadjar will continue alongside Max Verstappen.
Hadjar joined the senior Red Bull team at the start of the 2026 season. He has scored 71 points and is eighth in the Drivers’ Championship, despite missing three races due to a wrist injury.
His 2026 season includes a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. Hadjar previously raced for Racing Bulls in 2025, where he achieved his maiden podium at Zandvoort.
The decision for Racing Bulls involves balancing immediate performance with the long-term development of young talent. A pairing of Lindblad and Tsolov would result in a highly inexperienced lineup.
Laurent Mekies, who previously served as Racing Bulls Team Principal, was promoted to Team Principal and CEO of Red Bull Racing in July 2025. He recently signed a contract extension through 2031.
The strength of Red Bull has always come from its people and from creating an environment where talented individuals can achieve extraordinary things together. Laurent has played a crucial role in guiding the team through an important period of transition while maintaining the competitive spirit and the Red Bull principles that define us. This extension reflects our confidence in his leadership and our shared belief in the long-term vision of the team. We are ambitious about what lies ahead and we are committed to building on this momentum together.
